Fulton man arrested after fleeing through field, endangering child

Trying to escape police, James M. Johnston, 26 of Fulton, threw his 2-year-old child over a barbed-wire fence before climbing over himself early Thursday morning, reports the Fulton Police Department.

James. M. Johnston

When a FPD officer tried to stop Johnston at 12:48 a.m. Thursday for an equipment violation, Johnston drove away, starting a pursuit that went through the Callaway Community Hospital parking lot and two fields before Johnston abandoned his vehicle on Co. Rd. 306, according to the police report.

Maj. Roger Rice said when Johnston left his vehicle, he took his child, a 2-year-old boy, with him. Rice said the subject threw the toddler over a fence before climbing over himself and then landing on the child, which he then picked up as he continued fleeing on foot. Officers began a foot pursuit and were able to attain the child after Johnston dropped him in a field, Rice said. Johnston was apprehended shortly after and arrested on multiple charges. The toddler was checked by paramedics who determined the boy did not suffer any injuries. Rice said the child’s mother came to pick up her son, and the Department of Social Services will be investigating the incident.

Johnston was arrested for endangering the welfare of a child in the first degree, resisting arrest for a felony and numerous traffic violations, driving while license revoked, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, first degree trespassing and failure to secure a child, along with two outstanding Callaway County warrants — one for felony failure to appear on possession of marijuana and the other for misdemeanor possession of marijuana. He was transported to Callaway County Jail with his bond set at $14,756.